Cataloging Software, Any experience or advice please.

[paul kersey]

I would guess that I have been collecting DVDs for over five years now. You know how it is, you remember the first few and you maybe intend to write them down in a book after reaching around 50 or so but it never happens and now having reached maybe 700 or so I feel the need to catalogue them to avoid duplication etc.
I started to simply file them on the PC, but I have noticed that there is specialist software available that utilises a barcode reader. Has anyone got experience of using this product and can anyone recommend a particular brand that doesn't cost two arms and a leg? Thanks in advance for any help given.

[Nick Dando]

What would you use a barcode reader for? What sort of data would be picked up from the barcode? We use them at work and they're finicky. Those we use range in price from the cheap and cheerful Wasps, to the (probably very expensive) Imation RFID guns.

In fact I've just looked up the Imation gun and they're nearly $6000 each, and we have hundreds of them!

Nick

[paul kersey]

Well this is why I am asking. I saw this: DVD Catalog Software for cataloging your DVDs automatically (for Windows & Mac OS X)
and was curious to know whether anyone had experience of using it at all. There are other similar systems for sale, but I would not dream of spending money without a recommendation from someone out there

[Bernardo]

I use the IMDb facility. Register and get some space, enter your title, put cursor on My Movies then in the pending bit sort out in anyway you wish and you have a list, 10,000 titles allowed and you even have a note facility for comments, dates etc. The IMDb base is very very wide as far as broadcast and cinema material is concerned and you can share your database if you wish; but you can not list domestic Our Holiday In Guernsey 2003 or special some hobby DVD's such as British Steam DVD from monthly enthusiast mags; a spread sheet for that I am afraid.
Quite fun writing a spreadsheet.

[didi-5]

I still use a spreadsheet for everything but it is a pain to update. Trouble is that DVD Profiler, My Movies @ IMDb and the like always have some titles missing. I know you can add them but that's not really the point!

[Zlatna]

I still use a spreadsheet for everything but it is a pain to update. Trouble is that DVD Profiler, My Movies @ IMDb and the like always have some titles missing. I know you can add them but that's not really the point!

And are utterly useless if you want to catalogue Audiobooks and Radio Plays/Readings as well.

[Biff]

No barcoding facility I'm afraid, but I have found Griffith (Griffith - Home) to be very useful. Its free, easy to use even for technonumpties like me, and has a a Help Forum.

[munro]

I use Basenji on Linux and I find it's available for Windows too .. it's free


Munro

[JamesDFarrow]

I just use Word. Made separate genres then made columns - Title, Year, Runtime.
Printed it all out afterwards and keep the binder on my coffee table.

Great to keep your friends and relatives from playing with the DVDs on the shelves.
They fiddle with the binder instead.

If you want more columns and the ability to sort you can also use Excel.

One word of caution if you use an on-line cataloging site. They work great but if the site
closes down for whatever reason, you lose your list(s). A lot of work gone.

James

"No more trains will be sold once the magazine leaves the station".

[woody123]

Join Rate Your Music forum,it's free and also has listings of thousands of movies.If the movie isn't already in their database you can add it yourself.You can create a list of your collection and access it anytime.You can also comment on other users collections and rate albums,singles and movies.The drawback is that you can't list tv shows at the moment.
I'm currently listing my music collection of around 5000 items.I'll start the film collection when that's done.

[Richard_in_wales]

And are utterly useless if you want to catalogue Audiobooks and Radio Plays/Readings as well.

Not really, just use a separate worksheet for audio then Radio but all in the same Workbook. You could set up a simple database instead.